Peter Schmeichel has insisted that one Manchester United star has what it takes to become a “top-quality” player at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag’s men kicked off the new Premier League campaign last week with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench and broke the deadlock in the 87th minute of Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Marco Silva’s side.
Ten Hag is currently taking charge of United for his third season at the Premier League club after he inked a contract extension this summer.
The 54-year-old Dutchman’s second season led to mounting pressure over his future at Old Trafford, with United managing only an eighth-place finish in the league.
However, Ineos opted to retain Ten Hag after its end-of-season review and reinforced the Dutchman’s United squad this summer with new signings.
Ten Hag also saw a shake-up to his United coaching staff this summer, with club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed his assistant managers.
Schmeichel’s prediction for Man Utd star
Speaking to Goal, Peter Schmeichel singled out Andre Onana after the Manchester United No 1’s debut season in England.
United completed a deal worth £47.2m deal to sign Andre Onana from Inter Milan in 2023 after Red Devils legend David de Gea left Old Trafford.
Onana had previously worked under Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax and succeeded David de Gea between the sticks at United.
However, the 28-year-old Cameroonian endured a mixed reception in his debut season at United, despite Ten Hag fully backing the former Ajax star.
The United shot-stopper was initially met with fierce criticism over his early mistakes last season, but Onana appeared more comfortable as the campaign progressed.
Schmeichel has insisted that Onana can become a “world-class top-quality” ‘keeper for United so long as he has the right “defence in front of him.”
“I saw a lot of improvements with different things in his game over the season,” he said.
“What I particularly liked was he looked like he was enjoying it more and more, that’s the first step towards becoming the one that you want in goal.
“He needs help like any other goalkeeper in the world, he needs a defence in front of him.
“If he’s got that, I’m sure we’ll have a world-class top-quality goalkeeper who will do well.”
Schmeichel on Onana’s Man Utd struggles
Andre Onana has appeared to build on his confidence this summer and already warned United fans that he will take more “risks” in the current campaign.
Schmeichel believes that there were “two reasons” for why the Cameroon international was “unlucky” for United last season.
“I just thought he was a bit unlucky for two reasons,” he said.
“That’s a problem as a goalkeeper. You can be the best goalkeeper in the world but if your defence is not protecting you, you have a problem.
“Secondly, the goal he conceded in Munich [against Bayern Munich in the Champions League] was unlucky; if you do that for Inter or Ajax, it goes away within a week or two.
“You do that for Man Utd, it stays and you will be a goalkeeper who makes mistakes. That’s just the cruel reality of playing for Man Utd.”
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